HCMC MARATHON 2018 POWERED BY TAIWAN EXCELLENCE

HCMC Marathon 2018 powered by Taiwan Excellence proudly invites you to run the biggest marathon in Vietnam which counts with the continuous support
from the Association of Athletics Federations in HCMC and the HCMC Department of Culture and Sports. The event will be held on January,
2018 to encourage people who love running to get over their limitation and have a marathon experience.

To us, running is never just about reaching the finish line but also about the vibes, the excitement and the beautiful sceneries along the way that
will stimulate the runners’ senses. A nice route is waiting for you to explore and to enjoy our city marathon right here in Saigon, Vietnam.

HCMC MARATHON 2018 POWERED BY TAIWAN EXCELLENCE

1992
The first international Marathon of Vietnam named "Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon" was born. This is the first sporting event and a surprise move of Vietnam since the liberation of 1975 and started to welcome tourists since 1987.

The first HCMC Marathon was held in February 1992 with the participation of nearly 250 athletes from 26 countries. At that time, Vietnamese people were still very dim on the definition of "Marathon". Among the participating athletes, there were 92 Vietnamese athletes and only eight of them had ever run in Marathons. Thousands of people stood along Le Duan Boulevard to welcome athletes to their destination.

1996
HCMC Marathon was held once every 2 years at that time. For many objective reasons, the third marathon event was also the last in 1996. It was a pity for the sport movement of that time.

2013
Back in 2013, the concept was kind of new, running was not as trendy as it is now, not to mention running a marathon. With the aim of introducing a new concept and the vision of one day, holding a full marathon again, we decided to call the event the HCMC Run and offered only shorter distances; 3km, 5km and 10km. It might sound unusual but during that first edition, even the 3km distance was timed in order to provide a full experience of racing in a professionally organized event.

2015
The half marathon distance (21km) was officially introduced in the race. 21km & 10km where the only distances timed. Also, a new campaign was introduced, the "Iconquer" compaign which dared runners to conquer the Phu My Brigde.

2016
The event added a run for kids, called Kids Dash in order to promote an active & healthy lifestyle to the little ones.

2017
Finally, a 42km distance was added exactly 25 years after the first marathon and thus becoming a full marathon race. The name was then slightly changed to HCMC Run – The City Marathon. A new campaign was introduced, "You or The City - Who Is Faster?", daring participants to see who was faster, the most vibrant city of Vietnam or themselves. The question was then solved with the message "We Are Ho Chi Minh City" which was in all participants Tshirt and which highlighted the fact that when running a marathon, you become part of that city; running through its streets with its people.

2018
The race has been officially renamed as the HCMC Marathon thus making its mission real: becoming the city marathon of Ho Chi Minh City.
The HCMC Marathon has become an annual event and currently holds a wide range of distances: Full Marathon - 42km, Half Marathon - 21km, 10km, 5km & the Kids Dash.

26 years ago, most of the athletes who joined were veterans of the United States and Vietnam. 26 years later, HCMC Marathon expects and welcomes young people - Vietnam's future owners.